stirrup

[ stur-uhp, stir-, stuhr- ]

noun

1. a loop, ring, or other contrivance of metal, wood, leather, etc., suspended from the saddle of a horse to support the rider's foot.
2. any of various similar supports or clamps used for special purposes.
3. Nautical. a short rope with an eye at the end hung from a yard to support a footrope, the footrope being rove through the eye.
4. Also called binder. (in reinforced-concrete constructions) a U -shaped or W -shaped bent rod for supporting longitudinal reinforcing rods.
5. Anatomy. stapes.
6. 1. a strap of fabric or elastic at the bottom of a pair of pants, worn around and under the foot.
   2. stirrups, (used with a plural verb) close-fitting knit pants with such straps.

stirrup

/ ˈstɪrəp /

noun

1. Also calledstirrup iron either of two metal loops on a riding saddle, with a flat footpiece through which a rider puts his foot for support. They are attached to the saddle by stirrup leathers
2. a U-shaped support or clamp made of metal, wood, leather, etc
3. nautical one of a set of ropes fastened to a yard at one end and having a thimble at the other through which a footrope is rove for support
4. the usual US name for étrier

Other Words From

• stirrup·less adjective
• stirrup·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stirrup¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English stigrāp ( stige ascent + rāp rope ); cognate with German Stegreif

Word History and Origins

Origin of stirrup¹

Old English stigrāp, from stīg path, step (related to Old High German stīgan to move up) + rāp rope ; related to Old Norse stigreip, Old High German stegareif

Example Sentences

Workers were able to walk one horse out, but suction trapped the two, according to a Facebook posting by Stirrup Fun Stables Rescue, Inc.

From Seattle Times

Lord Stirrup backed changes to the Safety of Rwanda Bill as the House of Lords continued scrutiny of the plans.

From BBC

Ex-armed forces chief Lord Stirrup said allies should be excluded from the deportation scheme, such as the Afghans who supported UK military operations against the Taliban.

From BBC

Lord Stirrup added "global Britain" needed to "be seen as trustworthy" and sending allies seeking sanctuary in the UK to Rwanda may hinder that.

From BBC

At the farm, he leaves a foot between rows of Allium to allow for easy weeding with the six-inch blade of a stirrup hoe.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• clamp
• splint